Just a reminder that the fundraiser LifeStock 3 is NOT happening this Sunday, but postponed for a bigger and better happening next July 10th, 2016.

Please Email or Private message me if you would like to volunteer (many tasks doable from home), be a vendor, speaker or performer and I will get in touch soon.

We still need much help though! Legal costs are are still mounting higher and higher as our lawyer (who is charging a fraction of his worth because he believes in this case) wades through CFIA disclosure.

The prelim was adjourned again and now a publication ban prevents posting of the facts revealed in the CFIA documents.

You may not know about some of the things I've included in the spring issue of Edible Toronto magazine.

It's not the whole story, but it's a start.

Thank-you all for helping me find my way through this .

The prosecution put a publication ban on all preliminary hearing witness testimony and the actual trial too! Spread word so the public finds out what is being concealed. You have a right to know. Please share.

With only five sheep and two lambs here with me now, let me introduce you to the rest of the healing farm. Geese aren't meant to go solo and I've got my lone American Buff gander William here, becoming very fond of my truck bumper. He'd love to find a heritage Buff goose looking to start a family...pls share.

Thank-you, they are beautiful creatures and so much prefer being in pairs. A good way to start the new ARK.
:-D

"How Does Anyone Know That Montana Jones' Sheep Had Scrapie? They Don't."

Article in March issue Farmers Forum.

Columnist Ian Cumming wrote:

"As the sap starts to run this spring, a middle-aged reporter, Suzanne Atkinson, sits in her central Ontario farm home under house arrest because of a sheep, born in Ontario, sold to Alberta.

The ewe in question had tested positive for scrapie, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Therefore, Atkinson’s role in moving the rest of the herd from the breeder’s location, east of Peterborough, to a Western Ontario farm was in violation of several laws. The sheep were moved within hours of a CFIA raid on the farm owned by Linda ‘Montana’ Jones.

Alas, Atkinson had a lawyer who focused on cutting a deal, not on whether the CFIA had their facts straight about scrapie. Very few people asked if the scrapie sheep was really from Jones’ farm. But the CFIA said so, internally, over the past several years in reports and emails.

Now three others are facing charges: raw milk advocate Michael Schmidt, 60, Robert Pinnell, 48, and the sheep’s owner, Jones, 56. They appeared at a preliminary hearing in late February in Cobourg and Lindsay and face numerous charges including kidnapping her sheep. And we’re still not convinced her herd had scrapie.

Internal CFIA documents that would have shed light on the matter are now under a publication ban. These reports and emails sit in the embassy offices of the agriculture departments of our trading partners, the offices of agriculture organizations dedicated to exporting our livestock genetics, and some federal politicians.

Michael Hall, the head of Canadian Livestock Genetics Association saw the internal documents that we can’t write about and he won’t talk about, other than to say that what he already knows about the facts of the case, “they are disgusting.”

Doesn’t sound good for CFIA.

All this just after Canada sees a new mad cow case and China, plus five other nations, cut off our beef exports. The CFIA is frantically looking for a “feed source” as the cause. It’s the second BSE-infected beef cow from an Alberta farm where feed wasn’t purchased from a mill. Well, you get the picture.

Incompetence at the CFIA costing Canadian livestock producers millions is one thing. Going for a criminal conviction in the midst of incompetence covered up raises the bar to a new level.

Hours before the publication ban, the National Post ran a story quoting an internal CFIA employee email discussing the positive scrapie. Not sure we can legally talk about the contents of what has already been printed but having read the story I can tell you that the words “disgusting” come again to mind.

Recall that it was in January 2010 when the CFIA drove into sheep farmer Patric Lyster’s Alberta ranch to collect refrigerated sheep brain samples. As they routinely did several times per year, Lyster told me in a March 1 interview.

Lyster participates in the federal government’s scrapie survelliance program. That means that when any sheep over 12 months dies on his farm, Lyster takes a brain sample, puts it in the freezer and records the sheep’s tattoo and/or ear tag.

Today, protocol demands that the head be cut off and put in the freezer, with the CFIA then taking the brain sample and testing it, he said. Five years ago, taking the actual brain sample was the farmer’s responsibility, which was legal under the program.

Farmers doing their own sampling and labelling is allowed in other livestock sectors, such as owner sampling and weighing milk from individual cows. These milk records are considered for the farmer’s management purposes only and, by law, are “non publishable.” Why? Because without independent verification by trained officials, the industry and genetics-buying trading partners don’t see them as reliable.

So, pray tell, what’s the difference between the legality of a dairy and sheep farmer? Why is an independent milk sample not good enough for a genetic buyer but a farmer’s brain test is legal and authentic enough for Crown prosecutors to ask for jail time?

“I never, ever said the scrapie came from her (Montana Jones’) place,” Lyster told me.

During this adjounrment of the preliminary inquiry I've been thinking about this cool guy.

Meet Miller…he is behind my Wholearth flock. He is the reason, he is the beginning. Protecting his legacy brought me here, really. To you, asking for help to make sense of the government's invasion into my life as I knew it.

What a surreal detour the last five years has been (has it really been five?!?)

It’s his historical old genes old that I was preserving. He is the foundation sire who came from Hugh Miller’s flock—those genetics were the first Shropshires imported to Canada in the early 19th century. Miller lived to the grand old age of 14…unheard of for most sheep, which have generally moved on the great pasture in the sky by the time they reach 6 or 7 years of age.

He was still siring lambs until the end, even with arthritis in his front knees. He might still be here—he had a full, good set of teeth, a great appetite, good body condition and an outstanding attitude. Though his muzzle and ears were grey with age, he was a star, and he knew it.

He is buried at the top of the north hill overlooking the hills and fields of my farm, watching over his flock.

Thank-you for helping defend his right to leave a lasting impression in his descendents. What a cool sheep he was.

It's been an interesting few weeks with the long awaited Preliminary Enquiry ending early when Judge Chester ordered an adjounment since the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Crown for the prosecution Damien Frost had failed to hand over the remaining disclosure that we have been asking for for years. More on that to come...

Then at the most inopportune time, Aurelia 8A broke her leg. Here she is now...all fixed up.

HAPPY YEAR OF THE SHEEP! —Just two days into the discovery...the preliminary hearing for a pending criminal trial between the CFIA government wolves and four good people—a shepherd, a farmer, a good man and a good woman—over a rare heritage flock that the political pack killed to see if they were healthy.

It's grey inside these courtroom walls, and outside, a biting -30 Celsius wind trying to blow the door down just as hard as the huffing agents and puffing crown.

It may be grey dense air in close proximity to the suits, but there's a lighter brighter energy growing already midst the freedom fighting defense team of Shawn Buckley, the Canadian Constitution Foundation, and alleged sheep nappers Michael Schmidt and Montana Jones.

Something's up...hearings are typically draining and stressful. Why are they so cheery?

What do they know?

An auspicious time as we move toward finding out. It's going to be a good year.
Happy Lunar Year of the Sheep!

~ Montana

(The Sheep Napping prelim runs from Febrary 17 to March 2, 2015, with a third week in April, and bounces between Cobourg, Lindsay and Peterborough courthouses. You are welcome to come, but the real storybook will unfold at the actual trial.)

But I am not a criminal. I'm a shepherd, farmer and writer who has been preserving rare Shropshire sheep for the last 12 years, and farming various other heritage breeds and vegetables for the last 30.

Then the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) killed my beautiful ewes and their unborn lambs to find out if they were healthy. They were.

The CFIA ignored over 5,000 people who signed a petition to stop them . Their policy must change to protect our heritage breeds and heirloom seeds"”I need to keep going and ensure they don't destroy me, my farm or other small farms.

The domino effect since has been devastating, its been a downward spiral from their first raid, and worse with every invasion since. I keep telling myself "There are worse things", and I hang on.

I barely scraped through winter and now, I face imminent foreclosure and an astonishing $100,000. Dollar legal defense fee for the upcoming criminal trial. I have no income, no transportation, am battling depression and post traumatic stress.

If convicted, I face up to 12 YEARS IN JAIL and fines of $1.5 million.

If I lose the farm"”they win. And that is just wrong:another wrong added to the CFIA's long list of nonsensical wrongs.

It's not easy to admit, but pride aside"”I need help.

Please help spread word of this situation

It's up to all of us to change any and all unreasonable government policies that harm our environment, control our freedom and rights in real food and farming choices, and destroy our agricultural biodiversity. This uncomfortable chapter of mine is just a detail"”I'm not going to lay down just because I'm cold or broke or steamrollered by government. I'm standing up.

More people need to know what our government is doing with the power we have vested in them, on the pretence of protecting us.

I appreciate the encouragement of so many who have been following this story:it has made all the difference to me. It constantly reminds me that we are not alone:no matter how different our personal challenges. This is not the worst thing that ever happened to anybody, but it IS happening, and it needs to stop.

Please help me keep my home - help me keep the farm going. Any help you can offer WILL make a difference!

Along with other heritage breed livestock, I raise Heritage Shropshire sheep, a breed that is on the Rare Breeds Canada Endangered livestock list. The British genetics in my Wholearth flock had pedigrees dating back to the early 1900's when the first British stock was imported here. Despite protests from the British Rare Breeds Survival Trust, the CFIA wiped out the sheep and all my years of dedicated genetic work. The CFIA have paid ZERO compensation to me for destroying my healthy animals nor offered to replace them from English breeding stock. There are now less than 80 registered ewes in Canada. How could this happen?

Three years ago the CFIA swooped down on my little heritage farmstead and declared that a ewe I sold many years prior (to a livestock hauler and farmer in Alberta) had tested positive for a sheep disease called Scrapie. There had only been 10 cases in all of Canada the year before, and it's not a human health risk. The Scrapie infected sheep did not have the traceability I.D. ear tag that was there when I sold it, apparently the owner "didn't have it", but CFIA were told it was originally my sheep. The CFIA agreed it was quite possible that it had been infected in the time since it left my farm.

Scrapie is easy to spot, and my flock NEVER had a single sign or symptom. The CFIA went ahead and conducted live tests that have an 88% accuracy rate in detecting the disease. The 'dead' test on obex brain tissue has only slightly higher accuracy. As I predicted...all tests came back negative. But that wasn't good enough. But that wasn't good enough. The CFIA issued an order to kill them anyway.

Why? Because their policy to kill healthy rare sheep:ANY endangered livestock for that matter: is very wrong.

They demanded I hire an excavator and have a deep grave dug, and said they would kill them before my eyes and leave me to bury them all. A 15-foot pit was dug at the top of my hill overlooking the farm...the hill they grazed peacefully for so many years.

Then the CFIA told me they changed plans, and decided to load my sheep for a stressful 5 hour transport to a killing facility at a pet food plant near Ottawa, and that I would have top pay the bill.

There were many calls, emails and messages from outraged people saying they'd take, hide or move the sheep to protect them.

The CFIA arrived early April 2 to kill the flock, but the sheep were gone, with only a note left.

Months later they were discovered on a distant farm, and CFIA killed them and their newborns. All of the the tests cane back negative.

My farm is still in quarantine, CFIA has effectively halted my farm income and ensured that each day revolves around them, and defending my right to live peacefully. They have attacked, stripped bare, twisted up and torn down"”it's non-sensical:am I that much of a threat? I was just quietly living and farming with a few animals, growing vegetables, selling at local farmers' market...well, I was. Not now.

The CFIA continued to issue press releases announcing the high risk to the nation and "dangerous" nature of the missing sheep situation. The CFIA claimed they understood what a severe impact their procedures had on "affected" producers (implying that my destroyed flock they killed had indeed been infected with disease"”they weren't) ...and how difficult it must be and announced publicly that they properly compensate producers for their losses. Simply not true.

Armed with search warrants, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency investigators and Ontario Provincial Police raided my home, Michael Schmidt's and two others on August 2nd, 2012.

If convicted, I face up to 12 YEARS IN JAIL and fines of $1.5 million. Apparently I am FARMED (with truth) & DANGEROUS (to an unjust government). Now, I face imminent foreclosure and an astonishing $100,000. legal defense fee for the upcoming criminal trial.

If I lose the farm"”they win. And that is just wrong:another wrong added to the CFIA's long list of nonsensical wrongs. And if I lose my spirit?

I keep reminding myself there are far worse things to endure.

The domino effect of the CFIA's invasion meant selling off my heritage turkey breeding stock because I had no way to feed them. My beautiful pastured Tamworth pigs too, and two white Percheron mares. My farm truck died last fall. Then my car followed suit in December.

I tried to make light of the notion of being a secluded hermit with no way off the farm...tried to make it just another challenge. I sequestered myself away. Christmas was a dismal blur.

All through winter a kind neighbour brought hay to feed the few remaining animals. I had wanted to sell the other sheep because I couldn't afford to care for them"”CFIA wouldn't allow them to leave. Since the firewood ran out I've been burning the little scrap ends from a nearby pallet manufacturer. Some nights it's been 7° Celsius, sleeping in hat and fully clothed layers cuddled up with dogs under mounds of blankets.

To my sheer horror, a rat...a FEW bold rats...appeared in my kitchen the day before the CFIA raided my home with a search warrant as if to herald their arrival. It took a long time to rid the rodents from my life. The CFIA, however, are still in it.

No, it's no way to live.

Depression doesn't introduce itself on arrival. It's the uninvited dark guest that you one day realize has been there for some time. I considered asking it to leave since I realized it moved in with the CFIA.

Since their raids, I launch into anxiety attacks whenever I hear a car (is it THEM again?), with pounding chest pain, shortness of breath, forgetfulness, inability to concentrate and immobilization. It strikes me at any time. I can't look at photos of my now deceased sheep. I break down crying while sorting old pedigrees. I end up in tears when I see something that should be joyful, like the first robins of the year, or the sound of the first spring peepers. I end up sobbing when I realize I can't feel the beauty around me or on the farm anymore. The world has been muddied.

I'm told my symptoms are of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but I still seem too paralyzed watching the downward spiral to alter its course. I must change it now before it's too late.

On the saddest grey days a sprinkle of light rain seems enough to dissolve my frail being into the thawing ground, along with vague images of a former life. But even then, surely I'm stronger than an unthinking, faceless, draconian government body.

Last week an unkempt strange man trespassed on my property, filmed me through my windows, and left a notice declaring the locks would be changed. The bank is moving in.

People ask me how I can stand all the stress and pressure. I'm not always sure I can. But I hold the thought that what the CFIA has done is so very wrong, and what they continue to do is so very wrong.

More people need to know what our government is doing with the power we have vested in them, on the pretence of protecting us. I refuse to believe that the gross misuse of power wielded by this government body might go unnoticed.

First, I need to ensure the farm will not be lost. Then, to raise funds for legal defense against the CFIA's charges, and to raise awareness about how their policies are affecting all of us, and work to get them changed.

The encouragement of all those who have been following this story has been a huge support to me. It constantly reminds me that we are all in this together:no matter how different our personal suffering or challenges. This is not the worst thing that ever happened to anybody, but it IS happening, and it needs to stop.

I've been following your story for some time now. I'd like to consider an article for LEGAL LEMONADE (my trademark), and I wonder if a book/movie might be of more help for you and others. Something along the lines of Civil Action. In that instance the truth did not prevail in the courtroom, but made a significant impact years later when both companies in question were fined $90 million dollars each --A lot of children died, but at least at some point the injustice stopped. You can reach me through viviangreene.com

I read your story and it really touched me. I am so sorry for your loss. Farm life like you have built, especially encouraging biodiversity through raising rare animals, seems like such a peaceful, true life. I am sorry the government has raped your home, your livelihood, your sanctuary. These are the stories that social media should be used to fuel, and bring awareness to. I wish you all the best with your plight, and hope you find peace again after all these struggles.

Hi Montana, I have plenty of spare geese, but no Buffs :( I think I'm too far away, anyway. Geese seem to like cars and trucks, I don't know why. But you should be careful because they like poking around behind the bumper and can damage the wiring for the trailer lights among other things. They also really like chewing on the stems of the tires to the point of letting air out of the tire. So you might want to try to keep the goose away from your truck. Or at least check your tires each time you get in the truck so you don't drive off on a flat tire.

"Scrapie is a disease that develops slowly. Clinical signs are only seen in adult animals, typically between two and five years of age, and in some animals, the disease has taken up to eight years to develop. However, once an animal appears ill, it will die in one to two months" so what exactly is the reason to kill the sheep, and what specifically is your alleged crime?

The CFIA are barking up the wrong tree in their search for an infectious agent in the feed as to the cause of BSE. Also the suggestion that scrapie in sheep is caused by an infectious agent is also highly doubtfull. The science surrounding this BSE/Scrapie predicament is filled with holes. Perhaps they should be asking themselves why BSE is occurring only in western Canada? Might it be due to the fact that all Alberta producers are mandated via the Agricultural Pest Act to take active measures to control warbles in their cattle by spaying, injecting or pouring onto the animal’s spine, neurotoxic organophosphate pesticides? A number of researchers have found that organophosphate (OP) in systemic warble fly insecticide can deform the prion molecule. I am not saying that this practice alone is the problem however it certainly appears that it could certainly lend a hand. I can also think of several invasive veterinary practices used as management tools in the livestock and agricultural industry as a whole that have the potential to stimulate mutation or act as transmissible agents, and it is not unreasonable to assume that such practices could be implicated in the above conditions known as Mad Cow or Scrapie. Thousands of cattle, sheep, and goats are being needlessly slaughtered around the world at the hands of officials who are attempting to justify their actions through fear of disease and/or pandemic, as if to give the impression that they are actually in control of the situation and can prevent it. It would be inconceivable for them to think, that their methodology is in fact responsible for prompting mutations that stimulate disorders such as BSE and scrapie.

I have watched this from the beginning. This is purely CFIA ego. They were WRONG about your herd (not ONE instance of sickness). This is because someone in Canada - likely close by... is attempting to irradicate Scrapie globally and is making an example of you. It seems that their policy is to destroy every animal within a certain radius in the event of possibility. But there was no sickness so why do they continue...??? because you DARED to stand up for your livelihood? where do we live????? this is an outdated idea - and the more they are proven WRONG by their own methods, the more the world watches. They have misused funds, bungled their case, and refuse to stand down. These sheep are endangered - and rare - and resilliant - and beautiful - just like the sheperdess that guarded them with her life - David would be proud of you Montanna - indeed you face Goliath

Why are rare breeds used for meat? Why couldn't your sheep just be classified as wool producers? I think the authorities had no option but to kill as per international agreements to contain the disease...but why have your sheep in the food chain? Such rare specimens should be used for wool production only to avoid future problems and risks.

Hi my name is Mike. I think this is terrible and no one should have to go through what you have gone through. I love the breed and would love to help save them. If you have any which I could purchase from you I would do the duty of raising a fine flock on your behalf and try to get other people to see the good in these sheep and the good in you and your love for the sheep. sincerely Mike Damm. e mail me @ mikedamm51@hotmail.com I hope all works out I really do.

It's sad that there comes a time when a bureaucracy steps on the little people. Perhaps if those bureaucrats were to disappear, the remaining ones might have a change of heart. If not, finish off the rest and let it be a reminder to what happens to mental midgets who think they are the law and above it.

Hi, it's appalling what the gov is doing to you. Stay strong and don't give in to those assholes. Govs across the world are evil and their intentions are vile. A lot of people see this and it will be impossible for them to carry on this farce for much longer. I have no money to donate as I also live in this corrupt system and my financial situation is not rosy. However, I send you lots of love and positive energy and my thoughts are with you today. You are beautiful :)

Montana, I am so pleased to see that you will have the lawyer of your choice. Congrats! As you know, I have donated twice before to your campaign, so this is just a small additional donation that I would like to put directly towards your legal fees. I know the Canadian Constitution Foundation has been supporting you in this legal challenge, and I would like this money to go to them. In fact, I wish you would put up a special page so that people can donate to the CCF specifically to cover your legal fees. The Canadian Constitution Foundation ("Freedom's Defence Team") is a registered charity in both Canada and the U.S., so anyone who donates through the CCF to support your legal challenge will get a tax receipt. Keep your chin up!

Despite the fact that our Government turns away those in need, it is NOT the nature of most Australians. You have support far and wide opposing tyranny, that is what generations fought and died to oppose. The servants of the people need to be reminded who they are.

Despite the fact that our Government turns away those in need, it is the nature most Australians. You have support far and wide opposing tyranny, that is what generations fought and died to oppose. The servants of the people need to be reminded who they are.

This smacks of an agency overburdened with self-importance. I don't care for bullying, particularly not when logic and reason are overlooked. The heavy handed approach should have been a last resort, not a first. I truly hope things work out for you, please accept my humble offering.

I don't have much, but what the CFIA is doing to you is absolutely appalling and reprehensible. I'm so very sorry, and it infuriates me that a government body, who supposedly is there to protect us, is hurting wonderful, animal-loving small farmers such as yourself. I wish I could do more. Don't give up hope! We will fight this, and we will win.

This is totally wrong and I feel so sorry for what you have and are going through. I really hope that after all is done, that you can rebuild your flock and find happiness once again with your animals.

Our government is in a sad state of affairs. I used to be proud to be Canadian.... not so much anymore. I totally can empathize with your genuine situation. Try to keep your chin up and keep us up to date with your situation via email if you can.